THE PROBLEM of people lighting up on NHS grounds is still a drag in Fife.

Just weeks after new legislation was brought into place, NHS Fife has said it is working “hard to do what it can” to reinforce the smoking ban as people continue to puff away.

On 31st March this year patients, visitors and staff were asked to wait until they were off NHS grounds before smoking. This legislation is part of a national drive to create a tobacco-free generation within Scotland by 2034.

NHS Fife director of public health Dr Edward Coyle said, “NHS Fife sees every visit to our facilities as an opportunity to promote and improve people’s health.

“Our smoking policy states that smoking is not permitted at any time for staff, patients, visitors, contractors or the general public within NHS Fife premises or on our grounds.

“In recent weeks we have supported the national ‘Green Curtain’ campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of the fact that NHS Scotland grounds are now smoke-free, and which was promoted nationally on TV, radio and in the press.

“In addition, NHS Fife also launched its own awareness-raising campaign to ensure that all patients and visitors are aware of our no-smoking policy before they arrive at any of our sites.

“Our ‘A Place to be Smokefree’ campaign, which launched on No Smoking Day, saw eye-catching new signage installed at all hospital sites across Fife, as well as on our vehicles and in bus shelters across the kingdom.

“The campaign was also promoted widely in the local press and on our social media channels. Furthermore, we employ a member of staff at the main entrance of our largest hospital, the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, specifically to further promote our no-smoking message.

“The board is working hard to do what it can to change attitudes and reinforce the message that smoking on hospital grounds is unacceptable.

“We recognise that achieving such a cultural change cannot be done overnight, however, the board is committed to taking every reasonable action to improve the environments for our patients, staff and visitors and we thank the public for their support and co-operation as we work towards this end.”